Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Special Visit to Canada - The Genea-Blogger Gnome

Wow! What did I find when I unzipped my suitcase in Kelowna, B.C., Canada, but a travelling gnome - and the Genea-Blogger Gnome at that. Clutching his passport in one hand and a Blackberry in the other, he jumped out and immediately began asking tough questions about Canadian genea-gnome searches. I hadn't realized so many gnomes travelled by passenger ship to North America before 1920.

He had a grand time all weekend at the Kelowna & District Genealogy Society's seminar. He very obviously loved the borscht at Friday's supper! and he seemed to enjoy listening to all the family history talk on Saturday - especially at the Genealogy Café. He was a bit shy though - he hid behind a pillar so as not to be seen - and he never would stand still for a group photo. What a shame, eh.

We tried to find him a new shirt - a bigger one so that we could paint the name of this blog on it - he thought that would be fun - but somehow nothing would fit.

He hitched a ride with us back as far as Merritt, B.C., where we stopped at the cemetery (of course). No rattlesnakes this time, thank goodness.

Genea-Blogger Gnome seemed disappointed that he'd missed the famous Merritt country music festival but perked up noticeably at the A & W when someone started talking to him about rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, too. With a wink, he informed us he was off to have a look at the nearby Douglas Lake Ranch, one of the largest working cattle ranches in North America, but he promised he'd soon be in touch to let us know where he got to next. He did say he'd be back to see Terry Thornton in Hill Country, Munroe County, Mississippi, U.S.A., before the snow flies here. (That could be soon!)